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Arson not the answer for murderers covering their tracks
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Gail Anderson, 604.291.3589; 604.252.5785 (pager) gail_anderson@sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl, Media & PR, 604.291.4323/3210; marianne_meadahl@sfu.ca
Gail Anderson, 604.291.3589; 604.252.5785 (pager) gail_anderson@sfu.ca
Marianne Meadahl, Media & PR, 604.291.4323/3210; marianne_meadahl@sfu.ca
May 13, 2004
Murderers who set fire to their victim's homes may think that they are destroying evidence. SFU forensic entomologist Gail Anderson has discovered otherwise.
In fact, even if a house is totally burned to the ground, the insects and larvae that were originally attracted to the body still hold valuable information that can help pinpoint time of death.
"The murderer will often turn to arson in a bid to destroy the body and the evidence," says Anderson. "We now know that there is still much to be gained from the crime scene even after fire has occurred.
"Even if the insects are killed, they remain largely intact. All stages of their development are identifiable. That means I have everything I need for time of death analysis."
Anderson carried out a study in Alberta during an exercise last summer, involving a planned house burning by an Edmonton insurance company. She placed three pig carcasses in different rooms inside the suburban house. Each of the carcasses (the dead pigs were obtained from a butcher) was inflicted with a simulated bullet wound and allowed to decompose. Insects were able to get into the house through a small access hole in a window screen.
Three fires were carried out. In the first, one of the carcasses was covered in blankets, doused with gasoline and set on fire. Fire crews went in and worked to contain the fire, as they would in a real situation, although much damage occurred. While more than 30 cm of debris had fallen over the carcass, Anderson found that the carcass was still surrounded by insects and larvae, all dead but identifiable. All of the tiny bits of evidence were still intact.
A second fire was set with a match and newspapers in another room and a similar scenario unfolded. This time, not only were identifiable insects recovered, but some were still alive. During a third blaze the house burned to the ground. Anderson found the third pig in an overturned bathtub in the basement, covered in more than a foot of insulation debris. Under the carcass was an array of insects and larvae, all dead this time, but all intact.
Anderson has subsequently studied the insect remains and concludes they hold their weight in golden evidence. "This has huge implications for these kinds of murder cases. It shows that you can't ever really destroy a body or the insect evidence," says Anderson, who has also buried pig carcasses and anchored them in the ocean to carry out her studies.
The latest experiment was a first for Anderson involving the study of insect activity on carcasses indoors. She presented her preliminary findings at the European Association of Forensic Entomology in London in April and will present the final data at the International Congress of Entomology in Brisbane Australia in August.
—30—
Websites:
Gail Anderson, SFU Criminology: www.sfu.ca/~ganderso/
European Assoc of Forensic Entomology www.eafe.org/
In fact, even if a house is totally burned to the ground, the insects and larvae that were originally attracted to the body still hold valuable information that can help pinpoint time of death.
"The murderer will often turn to arson in a bid to destroy the body and the evidence," says Anderson. "We now know that there is still much to be gained from the crime scene even after fire has occurred.
"Even if the insects are killed, they remain largely intact. All stages of their development are identifiable. That means I have everything I need for time of death analysis."
Anderson carried out a study in Alberta during an exercise last summer, involving a planned house burning by an Edmonton insurance company. She placed three pig carcasses in different rooms inside the suburban house. Each of the carcasses (the dead pigs were obtained from a butcher) was inflicted with a simulated bullet wound and allowed to decompose. Insects were able to get into the house through a small access hole in a window screen.
Three fires were carried out. In the first, one of the carcasses was covered in blankets, doused with gasoline and set on fire. Fire crews went in and worked to contain the fire, as they would in a real situation, although much damage occurred. While more than 30 cm of debris had fallen over the carcass, Anderson found that the carcass was still surrounded by insects and larvae, all dead but identifiable. All of the tiny bits of evidence were still intact.
A second fire was set with a match and newspapers in another room and a similar scenario unfolded. This time, not only were identifiable insects recovered, but some were still alive. During a third blaze the house burned to the ground. Anderson found the third pig in an overturned bathtub in the basement, covered in more than a foot of insulation debris. Under the carcass was an array of insects and larvae, all dead this time, but all intact.
Anderson has subsequently studied the insect remains and concludes they hold their weight in golden evidence. "This has huge implications for these kinds of murder cases. It shows that you can't ever really destroy a body or the insect evidence," says Anderson, who has also buried pig carcasses and anchored them in the ocean to carry out her studies.
The latest experiment was a first for Anderson involving the study of insect activity on carcasses indoors. She presented her preliminary findings at the European Association of Forensic Entomology in London in April and will present the final data at the International Congress of Entomology in Brisbane Australia in August.
—30—
Websites:
Gail Anderson, SFU Criminology: www.sfu.ca/~ganderso/
European Assoc of Forensic Entomology www.eafe.org/